Cognati

Cognati is an Italian term that designates male in-laws, typically the brothers-in-law. The corresponding feminine form is cognata (singular) and cognata’s plural is cognate. In everyday usage, cognati refers to multiple male in-laws, while cognata or cognate refer to female in-laws. The plural forms align with gender: cognati for men, cognate for women.

Etymology and meaning: Cognati derives from the Latin cognatus, meaning related by birth. In modern Italian, the word describes kinship created by marriage rather than blood, reflecting social and familial ties established through a spouse.

Usage: In Italian family and etiquette contexts, cognato refers to the husband of a person’s sister or the brother of a person’s spouse; cognata refers to the wife of a person’s brother or the sister of a person’s spouse. These terms help distinguish the gender and nature of in-law relationships within extended families.

Other uses: Cognati can also appear as a surname in Italy. As a family name, it is relatively uncommon but attested in Italian records and genealogical sources.

See also: cognato, cognata, cognate, in-law, family relationship.

Note: The term cognati is distinct from the English word cognates, which refers to words with a common etymological origin. In Italian, cognati specifically denotes in-law relationships, while cognate in the sense of linguistics is a separate concept.